Ngo in Korea

The Gibbon Experience

2008-06-06T02:36:00.000-07:00

Huey Xai was the departure point for the Gibbon Experience. A 3 hour drive to the Bokeo conservation forest followed by a 3 hour hike led us to a small secluded village.

Suspended hundreds of feet in the air was a network of zip lines connecting tree houses and other parts of the rain forest canopy. Flying through, the view was fantastic.

Early in the morning, the valley was shrouded in mist. It was intense zipping, suspended so high and not knowing what was ahead. The gibbons could be heard singing in the distance, unfortunately I wasn't lucky enough to see one.

Later on in the day the sun came out and we zipped...

and hiked...
and crossed rivers...

The scenery was incredible.

Chang Rai to Huey Xai

2008-06-04T19:16:00.001-07:00

For this trip we took a bus that was quite luxurious in Thai standards. It had a/c, reclining chairs, and snacks were served.

The first night we stayed at a place called Chat House. It had a nice courtyard to hang out.

We considered renting motorbikes again but since it was a small town, we opted to explore on foot. We wandered through a local day market selling all kinds of things.

This is me and a guy who worked at the guest house. His name was John. He was a Burmese refugee and told some interesting stories about life in Burma.

For dinner I decided to have a traditional northern Thai dish called Lab Neau. The main dish consisted of minced pork, basil, red onions, and carrots with a lemon sauce.

The next morning I had some fried noodles for $1. I was surprised to be served green noodles.

There was a night market and a big area with a stage and tables set up but nobody was there. I think its much busier during high season.

Dinner was shrimp and cashews again. I don't eat enough shrimp in Korea.
The next day, as we prepared for our ride to Chang Khong on Thai/Laos border, I noticed this water called "Yellow Surprise"... I wasn't thirsty enough to try it.

Once we got to Chang Kong, we got on a boat to cross the river into Huey Xai, Laos.

Chang Mai

2008-06-02T02:17:00.000-07:00

We arrived in Chang Mai at around 5am and stayed at the Royal Guest House.

The building was a bit old and could probably use a paint job but the vines growing on the wall added personality.

This is the front lobby and restaurant area. There was also a pool. An air conditioned room for the night was roughly $15.
After settling in, we rented some scooters to explore the city and visit some Wat (temples)

I'm not sure what the significance of the 5-headed serpent is but but dragons are always held in high esteem in Asian culture.

I'm always impressed by the intricate detail and colours when I visit temples in Asia.

Each wall inside the temple had a little shrine. Sometimes I feel uncomfortable taking photos inside temples. Almost like I'm disrupting some kind of peaceful serenity.

This Buddha was iced out.

After a long day of exploring we stopped a traditional Thai restaurant and had a feast: 2 coconuts filled with cold, refreshing coconut milk, spring rolls, papaya salad with lime dressing, chicken and potato curry, shrimp and cashews, duck and vegetables, rice. Total price: roughly $14
On the southwest end of the old city there was a nice park. Outside the entrance, vendors were selling assorted beverages and lychee. People were also renting out bamboo mats for those who wanted to have a picnic or a bit of a nap.

We also went whitewater rafting which included an elephant ride to the river. Unfortunately I didn't bring my camera. After 3 nights in Chang Mai, we were off to Chang Rai.

Backpacking through SE Asia

2008-05-29T01:55:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, as some of you may or may not know, I am taking a month off of work to travel. I will spend a week in Northern Thailand, 10 days in Laos, 3 days in Cambodia, and then a week in the Thai Islands. I'll try to keep you updated on my travels.

I arrived in Bangkok at midnight. After 30min of search, my friend and I settle at the Rainbow Guest House on Khao San Rd. It is the backpackers haven of Bangkok.

At night it's busy with foreigners walking from bar to bar enjoying some late night refreshements. During the day it opens up to a street market selling all kinds of times including bracelets, watches, sunglasses, and clothing. Some are traditional, some are knock-offs.

For lunch we enjoyed Pad Thai (Pad means noodles) cooked from a street vendor. It tasted decent. For $1, the price was right.

We spent one night in Bangkok, the next afternoon we headed to the train station. Next stop: Chang Mai - Thailand's second largest city.

It was a 15 hour train ride.

During the day it was a cool ride with large windows. This my friend Scott, an old buddy from high school who came this way to travel with me.

It was a nice, scenic, ride with a view of jungles and a mountain backdrop.